- Daniel Ricciardo completed seventh in Mexican Grand Prix on Sunday
- Underneath-pressure Sergio Perez crashed out on the first nook of his residence race
- The Mexican is below contract with Pink Bull till the tip of subsequent season
Daniel Ricciardo appears to be like poised for a return to Pink Bull subsequent season after Sergio Perez acquired the equal of the soccer supervisor’s vote of confidence.
The 33-year-old Perez crashed out of the Mexican Grand Prix on the first nook when an over-exuberant transfer noticed him got rid of the monitor into retirement in a race won by his team-mate Max Verstappen.
Staff principal Christian Horner declined to decide to protecting the out-of-form Perez for 2024, regardless of the Mexican having a yr to run on his present contract.
Whereas diplomatic about Perez, Horner was notably complimentary about Ricciardo’s efficiency over the weekend, calling it ‘exceptional’.
The Australian driver, 34, certified a powerful fourth for Pink Bull’s junior staff AlphaTauri and completed seventh, their greatest results of the yr.
Daniel Ricciardo might be set to return to Pink Bull subsequent season instead of Sergio Perez
The Mexican crashed out within the opening lap of his residence Grand Prix on Sunday
Requested if he would stand by Perez, Horner’s reply got here with provisos. ‘Sure, he has obtained three races to cowl off that second place,’ he mentioned.
‘There are 20 factors between him and Lewis [Hamilton, a strong runner-up for Mercedes in Mexico].
‘He has had some misfortunate and a few points, however we nonetheless imagine he can do it between now and the tip of the yr.’
Pressed on whether or not ending second was a situation of remaining on the world championship-winning staff, Horner mentioned: ‘It isn’t as binary as that. You need to take a look at the circumstances and so forth, and Checo [Perez] has an settlement with us for subsequent yr and it’s our intention for him to be within the automotive in 2024.
‘We’ll give him all of the help he wants to make sure he finishes second, however there isn’t any prerequisite that if he would not end second he’s out of the staff.’
In distinction, Horner waxed lyrical about Ricciardo, who was handed the AlphaTauri seat before the summer break.
He gained seven of his eight grands prix at Pink Bull earlier than shifting to Renault in 2019, previous to a curiously tough two seasons at McLaren.
Pink Bull chief Christian Horner declined to substantiate Perez could be with the staff subsequent yr
Ricciardo completed seventh in Mexico as delivered AlphaTauri’s greatest results of the season
Horner mentioned: ‘It was nice to see Daniel carry out so effectively and it endorses our choice to convey him again [at AlphaTauri].
‘I assumed he was excellent this weekend, combating a Mercedes in an AlphaTauri, and, if it weren’t for the purple flag, he would have completed additional up.
‘It was a exceptional efficiency from him. He’s again to his previous self. He’s relaxed and assured.’
There’s a straightforward resolution open to Horner, specifically inserting Perez at AlphaTauri in Ricciardo’s place. That appears the almost certainly end result proper now.
